BNSF/UP - Atchafalaya River Lift Bridge

MY grandfather, Elie Joseph Brunette, born 1898 and who lived and worked in Morgan City from about the time the Lift Bridge was built told me as a boy about the time a west bound freight train approached the bridge which was open (up) and somebody screwed up and ran the engine, and some of the freight cars into the river. He came to Morgan City from Houma when he was about 18 or in about 1916 when he got there. I don't recall the year the accident happened. I'm 79.

MY grandfather, Elie Joseph Brunette, born 1898 and who lived and worked in Morgan City from about the time the Lift Bridge was built told me as a boy about the time a west bound freight train approached the bridge which was open (up) and somebody screwed up and ran the engine, and some of the freight cars into the river. He came to Morgan City from Houma when he was about 18 or in about 1916 when he got there. I don't recall the year the accident happened. I'm 79.

Always interesting to see bridges which are both "Swing" and "Vertical Lift"... there's one up in Arkansas that was changed due to the river channel shifting.

I am searching for photos or good line drawings of the original bridge of the Atchafalaya R. The bridge I am interested in had 2 movable spans--one to move to the side to allow the main span to retract opening the river for navigation. I would like to make a model of the bridge opening arrangement.

Roy R. Reynolds

I've heard stories that a train plunged into the river off the old swing span and the the train engine was never found or retrieved due to it sinking in the mud on the bottom of the Atchafalya River. Is there any truth to this story??? I've never found anything on it...

For further clarification, the westernmost through span which had previously served as the swing span prior to the installation of the center vertical lift span no longer functions as a draw span. The rails have been permanently welded together and the swing mechanism has been permanently disabled. All marine traffic that cannot travel under the bridge must use the center lift span.

I worked for the southern Pacific,union Pacific and the present owner b.n.s.f.railway.U.P.only aquired this portion of the railroad for a short period and under government regulation spun it off to the bnsf.in the early 19th century it was a swing bridge with the opening being on the Berwick side of the river. It was later modernized to a lift bridge with the opening more to the middle of the river.I've operated bridges for 3 railroads since 1980. Enjoyed your pictures